Texas Maritime Lawyers

Undefeated Texas Maritime Injury Lawyers

The Maritime industry is a critical driver of the Texas economy. 

In fact, according to the Texas Port Association, maritime operations in the state generate $270 billion in economic activity and contribute $6 billion in state and local tax revenue every year. 

Unfortunately, this economic prosperity comes at a significant human cost for the men and women employed on offshore platforms, cargo vessels, oil tankers, shipyards and other maritime settings, where working conditions are not only difficult but frequently dangerous. From the constant threat of catastrophic fires and explosions to the very real potential for toxic exposures, equipment malfunctions, and severe weather events, maritime workers in Texas risk injury and death every single day they’re on the job. 

If you were injured or lost a loved one in a Texas maritime accident or explosion, you can’t depend on your employer to “take care of you” or “make things right.” No matter what they might promise, your company and its insurer have one goal – to pay you and your family as little as possible, regardless of the extent of your injuries and losses.

They have likely already hired a team of lawyers and are preparing to employ whatever tactics necessary to avoid accountability, even if that means blaming you for your injuries and “losing” or misplacing critical evidence proving their negligence caused or contributed to the accident.

Contact our Undefeated Texas Maritime Injury Lawyers for a Free Consultation at 1-888-603-3636 or by Clicking Here

With billions won, including the largest Jones Act and maritime recoveries in history, our Undefeated Maritime Lawyers have the resources, skill and experience to successfully take on the biggest offshore operators in the world and secure our clients the resources needed to access the best medical care available and provide for themselves and their families for the rest of their lives.

Call 1-888-603-3636, chat with us through our website, or Click Here to send us a confidential email through our “Contact Us” form.

All consultations are free, there’s no commitment involved, and you won’t owe us anything unless we win your case.

Texas Offshore and  Maritime Industries

With 367 miles of coastline along the Gulf of Mexico, Texas boasts a dynamic and diverse maritime sector encompassing everything from energy production and shipping to tourism and recreation.

Port Operations and Shipping

The Texas Gulf Coast plays a critical role in the nation’s import-export economy.

In fact, more imported goods pass through the Port of Houston than any other port in the United States, and it ranks second in the nation for both exports and total tonnage. The Port of Beaumont (4th), the Port of Corpus Christi (6th) and the Port of Texas City (10th) are also among the ten largest ports in the country. In 2022, these and other Texas ports handled over 615 million tons of cargo, representing about 25% of the total port tonnage in the United States.

Oil and Gas Industry

The Gulf of Mexico is a crucial region for energy production,  accounting for 17% of the total crude oil extracted in the United States and five percent of natural gas production. According to one recent estimate, offshore oil and gas operations are expected to support an average of 156 thousand Texas jobs through 2040,

Shipbuilding and Repair

The Lone Star State has a robust shipbuilding and repair industry, with major shipyards located in key maritime hubs like Corpus Christi and Houston.  Shipbuilding activities directly generate more than $285 million in wages for Texas workers annually.

Offshore Wind Industry

The offshore wind industry is an emerging sector in Texas, leveraging the state’s coastline and wind resources to produce renewable energy. Although still in its infancy, the offshore power sector contributed $1.7 billion to Texas’s GDP in 2021 alone.

Tourism and Recreation

While often overlooked, tourism is a critical component of the state’s economy. In a single year, cruise ships departing from the Port of Galveston generated $1.5 billion in direct spending, while recreational saltwater fishing supported 472,000 jobs and contributed $39 billion to the state’s GDP.

Maritime Laws: What Texas Offshore Workers Need to Know

If you’re a maritime worker injured on the job, it’s crucial to understand your rights and the maritime laws intended to protect you and your family.

Seaman’s Right to Maintenance & Cure

“Maintenance and Cure” is a fundamental right under maritime law that provides injured seamen with essential support and medical care until they reach maximum medical improvement.

• Maintenance: A daily stipend to cover a seaman’s living expenses while they recover, including costs for food, shelter, and utilities.
• Cure: Payment for medical expenses related to the maritime injury, including doctor visits, hospital stays, medication, and rehabilitation.

A maritime worker is entitled to maintenance and cure regardless of who is at fault for their injury.  Benefits continue until the individual has reached maximum medical improvement, meaning further medical treatment will not improve their condition.

The Jones Act

Under the Jones Act, maritime workers have the right to sue their employers for personal injury and damages incurred due to the employer’s negligence. This federal law also entitles injured seaman to “maintenance” and “cure” benefits during their recovery and allows surviving family members to file a wrongful death lawsuit when a maritime worker dies due to their employer’s negligence or the unseaworthiness of a vessel.

To qualify to file a Jones Act lawsuit, an injured or deceased worker must be classified as a seaman, meaning they spend a significant amount of their employment time on a vessel in navigation. To receive compensation under the Jones Act, injured seamen and their survivors must file their claim within three years from the date of the injury or qualifying event.

The Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA)

The LHWCA provides workers’ compensation benefits to maritime workers not covered by the Jones Act, such as longshoremen, harbor workers, and shipyard workers. Benefits are provided regardless of fault, meaning workers do not need to prove employer negligence to receive compensation. However, To pursue a claim under the LHWCA, injured workers or their survivors must notify the employer within 30 days of becoming aware of an injury or illness and file a complaint with the federal government within one year. 

The Death on the High Seas Act (DOHSA)

The DOHSA provides compensation to the families of maritime workers who die due to wrongful acts or negligence occurring beyond three nautical miles from the shore of the United States. The Act Provides for financial losses suffered by the deceased’s family, including loss of financial support and funeral expenses.  DOHSA is the exclusive remedy for deaths occurring on the high seas.

The Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA)

The OCSLA extends workers’ compensation benefits to employees working on fixed platforms and other structures attached to the seabed of the Outer Continental Shelf, such as offshore workers involved in oil and gas exploration and production. The deadline for filing OCSLA claims is governed by the statute of limitations in the “closest adjacent state,” which means Texas offshore workers or their survivors have two years from the date of an injury or death to file a claim. 

The Limitation of Liability Act

The Limitation of Liability Act allows vessel owners to petition a federal court to limit their liability for damages following a maritime incident to the value of the vessel and its pending freight. Once such a petition has been filed, the court stays all claims until the extent of liability is determined.  Injured maritime workers and their families can challenge the vessel owner’s petition, but they must prove the vessel owner had knowledge of or was directly involved in the actions or negligence that led to the incident.

Common Causes of Maritime Injuries

Whether employed in the offshore oil and gas industry, working on a commercial fishing boat, or serving as a crewmember aboard a cargo vessel or tanker ship, maritime workers face unique hazards when they’re on the job.

Jack-Up Rig Accidents

Used primarily in offshore drilling operations, these mobile platforms can be raised and lowered using a system of jacks, making them versatile but also prone to certain risks.

• Mechanical Failures: Equipment malfunction, such as a jack failure, can cause sudden platform instability.
• Weather Conditions: High winds and rough seas can destabilize rigs, leading to accidents.
• Human Error: Mistakes during drilling operations or rig movement can result in accidents.

Tugboat and Barge Accidents

More than 49,000 tugboat and barge transits go back and forth to the Port of Houston every year. Compared to other vessels, tugboats are small yet require a lot of equipment, and space is at a premium. Incidents that typically lead to maritime injuries aboard tugboats and barges include:

• Collisions: Poor visibility, navigation errors, or mechanical failures can lead to collisions with other vessels or structures.
• Poorly Secured Cargo:  Crewmembers can be injured when cargo shifts due to being improperly secured. 
• Equipment Issues: Machinery or equipment, like cranes, can cause accidents and injure workers when not used correctly or when they malfunction.
• Line Handling Accidents:  Improper handling of tow lines can result in severe injuries, including amputations or crush injuries.

Deck Accidents

A vessel’s deck can quickly become treacherous due to a sudden storm or slippery conditions, increasing the chances of accident and injuries:

• Slips and Falls:  Wet and oily surfaces can cause workers to slip and fall, leading to fractures or head injuries.
• Heavy Machinery: Operating or working near cranes, winches, and other heavy machinery poses risks of crush injuries or being struck by moving equipment.
• Cargo Handling: Inadequate training and a lack of appropriate equipment can result in Improper cargo handling, leading to back injuries, crush injuries, or being struck by falling objects.

Falls Overboard

Falls overboard are a significant risk in all maritime operations, often resulting in drowning or severe hypothermia.

• Rough Seas: High waves and unstable vessel movements can cause workers to lose their balance and fall into the water.
• Lack of Safety Equipment: Inadequate use of personal flotation devices (PFDs) or harnesses increases the risk of fatal falls.
• Slippery Surfaces: Wet and greasy decks contribute to falls, especially when proper footwear is not used.

Cargo Ship Accidents

Maritime workers aboard cargo ships frequently suffer injuries due to:

• Load Shifts: Improperly secured cargo can shift during transit, causing crush injuries or vessel instability.
• Machinery Hazards:  Working with heavy machinery and equipment for loading and unloading cargo poses significant risks.
• Confined Spaces: Cargo ships often have confined spaces that can expose workers to toxic fumes or entrapment.

Dredge Accidents

Dredging involves the removal of sediments from the bottom of water bodies to maintain navigable waterways. Common causes of maritime dredging accidents include:

• Equipment Failures: Dredging equipment failures can lead to severe injuries from falling debris or machinery malfunctions.
• Underwater Hazards: Dredge ships often encounter unexpected underwater obstacles or hazardous materials.
• Falls: The nature of dredging operations often involves working on unstable platforms, increasing the risk of falls.

Oil Rig and Platform Accidents

Offshore oil platforms are high-risk environments due to the presence of flammable materials and heavy machinery.

• Explosions and Fires: Volatile substances increase the risk of explosions and fires, which can cause severe burns or fatalities.
• Blowouts: Uncontrolled release of oil or gas can lead to blowouts, posing serious risks to workers.
• Falls from Heights: Workers often perform tasks at significant heights, increasing the risk of falls.

Shipyard Accidents

According to the U.S. Occupational Safety & Hazards Administration, shipyard work is extremely hazardous, with an injury-accident rate more than twice that of construction and general industry work. Common causes of shipyard-related maritime injuries include:

• Heavy Machinery:  Operating or being near cranes, forklifts, and other heavy machinery can result in crush injuries.
• Welding and Cutting:  These activities pose risks of burns, eye injuries, and inhalation of toxic fumes.
• Falls: Working on scaffolding or at heights increases the risk of falls, especially if proper safety measures are not in place.

Recent Texas Maritime Accidents

It’s estimated that approximately 400,000 workers in the United States are employed in various maritime industries. More than 56,200 of these jobs are located in Texas, which ranks #3 in the nation for maritime employment.

Unfortunately, these workers are far more likely to suffer severe and fatal injuries on the job than workers in other industries. In fact, data compiled by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that, between 2011 and 2017, fatal injuries in the maritime industry occurred at an average rate of 15.9 per 100,000 employees each year. That’s five times the overall average reported for all workers in the United States.

Recent accidents involving Texas Maritime workers have included:

Miss Peggy Capsizing

In July 2024, a crewmember was killed, and two others were injured when a 55-foot tugboat called the Miss Peggy capsized and sank near the Lynchburg Ferry crossing on the Houston Ship Channel. Early indications from AIS data and bystander accounts suggested that the Miss Peggy was being overtaken by the bulk carrier Yangze 7 just before capsizing and may have been involved in a collision.   

Our Texas Maritime Injury Lawyers were the first hired to represent crewmembers who were injured when the Miss Peggy capsized.

Barbours Cut Cargo Ship Fire

In January 2024, a fire erupted aboard the M/V Stripe, a container ship docked at the Barbours Cut Container Terminal in the Port of Houston. Two unidentified crewmembers were pronounced dead at the scene, and a third was airlifted to a Houston hospital in critical condition. All three victims were found in the engine room, where they were attempting to battle the fire. 

Port of Corpus Christi Pipeline Explosion

In August 2022, an Orion Marine Group dredging vessel struck an underwater pipeline, injuring six crewmembers and leaving four others unaccounted for. The Waymon L Boyd dredge was operating along refinery row in Corpus Christi, Texas, when it hit the submerged natural gas pipeline at the barge loading dock. The pipeline ruptured, triggering an explosion and massive fire that engulfed the barge and a nearby grain elevator. The remains of the four missing crew were not recovered for several days.

Sabine Pass Offshore Oil Rig Fire

In February 2022, a fire on a decommissioned offshore oil rig near Sabine Pass, Texas, forced nine workers to flee for their lives. The blaze broke out aboard the Pride Wisconsin during a salvage operation. All nine workers were evacuated via a Coast Guard helicopter, and the fire was allowed to burn itself out.

Kiewit Bulkhead Offshore Oil Rig Accident

A maritime construction worker was tragically killed in October 2022 after falling from an offshore rig moored at the Kiewit bulkheads inside the La Quinta ship channel near Ingleside. Initially reported missing, a marine team discovered the worker’s remains hours later using a side scan sonar system to search the sea floor. Although the deceased had been wearing an appropriate flotation device when he fell, it failed to deploy, likely contributing to his death.

Port Neches Shipyard Accident

In February 2022, a worker employed at Sterling Shipyard in Port Neches fell into a tugboat at the dry dock.  The 60-year-old man was rushed to the Medical Center of Southeast Texas but died shortly after arriving.

Port Aransas Barge Explosion

In October 2017, a barge transporting around 133,000 gallons of crude oil exploded and caught fire off the coast of Port Aransas. Eight crewmembers were aboard the vessel at the time, but only six safely escaped the blaze. The body of one of the missing seamen was recovered several days later, but the other was never found. A subsequent investigation determined that the explosion was triggered by crude oil vapor leaking into a void space through a corroded bulkhead.

Deepwater Horizon Oil Rig Explosion

In April 2010, an explosion aboard BP’s  Deepwater Horizon offshore oil rig tragically 11 workers and seriously injured 17 others. By the time the blown-out Macondo well was capped 87 days later, an estimated 3.19 million barrels of oil had spilled into the Gulf of Mexico. More than a decade later, the explosion ranks as the deadliest offshore drilling disaster in United State’s history.

Our offshore rig explosion lawyers recovered highly favorable settlements on behalf of 5 workers injured aboard the Deepwater Horizon offshore oil rig.

The Most Important Things to Do After a Maritime Injury

When maritime workers are hurt or killed on the job, their employers know they’re potentially looking at millions of dollars in liability. If you or someone you love suffered a severe or fatal maritime injury, you should expect the company to spring into action immediately, hire a team of high-powered attorneys, and do everything possible to avoid responsibility and pay you as little as possible. 

If you don’t act just as quickly to protect your rights, chances are you and your family will never receive the maximum compensation possible for all of your injuries and losses:

• Notify your supervisor so that an official report can be written.
•  Request medical attention from the healthcare provider of your choice; you are under no obligation to see the company’s doctors.
• DO NOT SIGN ANYTHING other than the official incident report. You’re not obligated to sign anything else or provide any recorded statement. Remember, any admission about the accident will certainly be used against you.
• Write down the names and contact information of any witnesses, as well as the time and date the incident occurred. If you’re physically able, take pictures of the accident scene and anything that may have caused your injury. 
• Do not accept or even discuss a settlement offer with your employer or its insurance company until you have consulted a maritime lawyer. If you attempt to negotiate on your own, the company is unlikely to offer anything close to maximum compensation for all your injuries and losses.

What Sets Our Texas Maritime Lawyers Apart

Why are our Texas Maritime Lawyers so successful?

• Every one of our lawyers is an experienced trial lawyer – and they’ve never been defeated in the courtroom.
• They have a thorough understanding of maritime law and know how to counter the tactics companies employ to avoid responsibility.
• We won’t consider settling your case unless you and your family receive the maximum compensation possible for your injuries and losses.
• If the company doesn’t offer a settlement that fully compensates you and your family, we won’t hesitate to take your case to trial, where we’ve consistently recovered the largest verdicts in history.

When you hire our maritime lawyers, you’re getting a team of the best and brightest offshore injury attorneys in the country who will devote whatever time and resources are necessary to ensure that you receive the best medical care available and the maximum compensation possible.

In fact, if you watch our Client Video Testimonials or our firm’s YouTube channel, you’ll hear the same thing repeatedly: we genuinely care about our clients and treat them like family. This commitment motivates our maritime lawyers to consistently win the largest verdicts and settlements in history, and it’s why our clients continue to call and turn to our lawyers years after we’ve successfully resolved their cases.

Undefeated Texas Maritime Injury Lawyers: Call 1-888-603-3636  or Click Here For a Free Consult

If you or a loved one were seriously injured or tragically killed in connection with a maritime accident or explosion, you can’t afford to place your family’s future in your employer’s hands. 

In addition to being Undefeated, our history of record-setting verdicts and settlements in Jones Act and other maritime cases has provided our Texas Maritime Injury Lawyers with the resources and experience to stand up against the largest maritime companies in the world and ensure that our clients and their families are fully compensated for all their injuries and damages.

Call 1-888-603-3636, use the “Chat Now” button on our website, or Click Here to send us a confidential email through our Contact Us form.

We’ll answer your questions, explain your rights and options, and provide the information you need to make the best decision for you and your family.